Apparatus for heating smokable material

ABSTRACT

Disclosed is an article for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The article includes a carrier having plural thermally-conductive portions, on which are locatable respective discrete quantities of smokable material. Between the portions of the carrier, the carrier is shaped to form a thermal barrier for inhibiting heat conduction from one or more of the portions of the carrier towards another of the portions of the carrier in use.

PRIORITY CLAIM

The present application is a Continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.16/478,724, filed Jul. 17, 2019, which in turn is a US National Phaseentry of PCT Application No. PCT/EP2018/050907, filed Jan. 15, 2018,which claims priority from Great Britain Patent Application No.1700812.9, filed Jan. 17, 2017, each of which is hereby fullyincorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to articles for use with an apparatus forheating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of thesmokable material, to an apparatus for heating smokable material tovolatilize at least one component of the smokable material, and tosystems comprising such articles and such an apparatus.

BACKGROUND

Smoking articles such as cigarettes, cigars and the like burn tobaccoduring use to create tobacco smoke. Attempts have been made to providealternatives to these articles by creating products that releasecompounds without combusting. Examples of such products are so-called“heat not burn” products or tobacco heating devices or products, whichrelease compounds by heating, but not burning, material. The materialmay be, for example, tobacco or other non-tobacco products, which may ormay not contain nicotine.

SUMMARY

A first aspect of the present disclosure provides an article for usewith an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at leastone component of the smokable material, the article comprising: acarrier having plural thermally-conductive portions on which arelocatable respective discrete quantities of smokable material; wherein,between the portions of the carrier, the carrier is shaped to form athermal barrier for inhibiting heat conduction from one or more of theportions of the carrier towards another of the portions of the carrierin use.

In an exemplary embodiment, between the portions of the carrier and ascompared to the portions of the carrier, the carrier is shaped to formthe thermal barrier.

In an exemplary embodiment, the article comprises the respectivediscrete quantities of smokable material on the pluralthermally-conductive portions of the carrier.

In an exemplary embodiment, the smokable material is in the form of agel or thin film.

In an exemplary embodiment, the carrier is shaped to form thermalbarriers between respective pairs of the portions of the carrier.

In an exemplary embodiment, the, or each, thermal barrier surrounds arespective one of the portions of the carrier.

In an exemplary embodiment, the, or each, thermal barrier comprises oneor more holes through the carrier.

In an exemplary embodiment, the, or each, thermal barrier comprises oneor more channels or blind holes in the carrier.

In an exemplary embodiment, the article comprises a mass ofthermally-insulating material in the channel(s) or blind hole(s) of the,or each, thermal barrier.

In an exemplary embodiment, the thermally-insulating material comprisesa polymer.

In an exemplary embodiment, the thermally-insulating material has athermal conductivity of no more than 0.5 W/(m·K).

In an exemplary embodiment, the portions of the carrier are arranged asa two-dimensional array.

In an exemplary embodiment, each of the portions of the carrier is madefrom heating material that is heatable by penetration with a varyingmagnetic field.

In an exemplary embodiment, the heating material comprises one or morematerials selected from the group consisting of: anelectrically-conductive material, a magnetic material, and a magneticelectrically-conductive material.

In an exemplary embodiment, the heating material comprises a metal or ametal alloy.

In an exemplary embodiment, the heating material comprises one or morematerials selected from the group consisting of: aluminum, gold, iron,nickel, cobalt, conductive carbon, graphite, plain-carbon steel,stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, steel, copper, and bronze.

A second aspect of the present disclosure provides an article for usewith an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at leastone component of the smokable material, the article comprising: acarrier having a surface; and smokable material, in the form of a gel orthin film, on the surface of the carrier.

In an exemplary embodiment, the smokable material is coextensive orsubstantially coextensive with the surface of the carrier.

In an exemplary embodiment, the smokable material comprises pluraldiscrete quantities of the smokable material on the surface of thecarrier.

In an exemplary embodiment, the carrier is a sheet.

In an exemplary embodiment, the carrier has, or comprises a materialhaving, a thermal conductivity of at least 10 W/(m·K) or at least 90W/(m·K) or at least 200 W/(m·K).

In an exemplary embodiment, the carrier comprises nickel and/oraluminum.

In an exemplary embodiment, the carrier comprises a laminate, andwherein the laminate comprises a layer of nickel and a layer ofaluminum.

In an exemplary embodiment, the layer of aluminum is located between thelayer of nickel and the smokable material. In another exemplaryembodiment, the layer of nickel is located between the layer of aluminumand the smokable material.

In an exemplary embodiment, the carrier comprises a laminate, andwherein the laminate comprises a layer of nickel and a layer of paper.

In an exemplary embodiment, the layer of paper is located between thelayer of nickel and the smokable material. In another exemplaryembodiment, the layer of nickel is located between the layer of paperand the smokable material.

A third aspect of the present disclosure provides an apparatus forheating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of thesmokable material, the apparatus comprising: the article of the firstaspect of the present disclosure or the article of the second aspect ofthe present disclosure; and a heating device for heating thethermally-conductive portions of the carrier.

A fourth aspect of the present disclosure provides an apparatus forheating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of thesmokable material, the apparatus comprising: a heating zone forreceiving an article comprising smokable material; a substratecomprising plural thermally-conductive portions, wherein, between theportions of the substrate, the substrate is shaped to create a thermalbarrier for inhibiting heat conduction from one or more of the portionsof the substrate towards another of the portions of the substrate inuse; and a heating device for heating the thermally-conductive portionsof the substrate to thereby heat portions of the heating zone.

In an exemplary embodiment, between the portions of the substrate and ascompared to the portions of the substrate, the substrate is shaped toform the thermal barrier.

In an exemplary embodiment, the substrate is shaped to form thermalbarriers between respective pairs of the portions of the substrate.

In an exemplary embodiment, the, or each, thermal barrier surrounds arespective one of the portions of the substrate.

In an exemplary embodiment, the substrate comprises heating materialthat is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field, and anickel coating on the heating material.

In an exemplary embodiment, the heating material comprises one or morematerials selected from the group consisting of: anelectrically-conductive material, a magnetic material, and a magneticelectrically-conductive material.

In an exemplary embodiment, the heating material comprises a metal or ametal alloy.

In an exemplary embodiment, the heating material comprises one or morematerials selected from the group consisting of: aluminum, gold, iron,nickel, cobalt, conductive carbon, graphite, plain-carbon steel,stainless steel, ferritic stainless steel, steel, copper, and bronze.

In an exemplary embodiment, the heating device comprises plural heatersfor heating respective ones of the thermally-conductive portions.

In an exemplary embodiment, each of the thermally-conductive portions ismade from heating material that is heatable by penetration with avarying magnetic field; and wherein the plural heaters compriserespective magnetic field generators for generating varying magneticfields for penetrating the respective thermally-conductive portions inuse.

In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus comprises a printed circuitboard, wherein the magnetic field generators comprise respective coilsformed in or on the printed circuit board.

In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus comprises a controller forcontrolling operation of at least one of the plural heatersindependently of at least one other of the plural heaters.

A fifth aspect of the present disclosure provides a system for heatingsmokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokablematerial, the system comprising: the article of the first aspect of thepresent disclosure or the article of the second aspect of the presentdisclosure; and an apparatus comprising a heating zone for receiving thearticle, and a heating device for heating the thermally-conductiveportions of the carrier of the article when the article is located inthe heating zone.

In an exemplary embodiment, the heating device comprises plural heatersfor heating respective ones of the thermally-conductive portions.

In an exemplary embodiment, each of the thermally-conductive portions ismade from heating material that is heatable by penetration with avarying magnetic field; and wherein the plural heaters compriserespective magnetic field generators for generating varying magneticfields for penetrating the respective thermally-conductive portions inuse.

In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus comprises a printed circuitboard, wherein the magnetic field generators comprise respective coilsformed in or on the printed circuit board.

In an exemplary embodiment, the apparatus comprises a controller forcontrolling operation of at least one of the plural heatersindependently of at least one other of the plural heaters.

In an exemplary embodiment, the article is the article of the firstaspect of the present disclosure, the apparatus is the apparatus of thefourth aspect of the present disclosure, and the thermally-conductiveportions of the carrier of the article align with thethermally-conductive portions of the substrate of the apparatus when thearticle is in the heating zone.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Embodiments of the disclosure will now be described, by way of exampleonly, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic plan view of an example of an article for usewith an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at leastone component of the smokable material.[

FIG. 2 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the article of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic plan view of an example of another article foruse with an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize atleast one component of the smokable material.

FIG. 4 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the article of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 shows a schematic plan view of an example of another article foruse with an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize atleast one component of the smokable material.

FIG. 6 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the article of FIG. 5.

FIG. 7 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of anotherarticle for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material tovolatilize at least one component of the smokable material.

FIG. 8 shows a schematic plan view of an example of another article foruse with an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize atleast one component of the smokable material.

FIG. 9 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the article of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 shows a schematic plan view of an example of another article foruse with an apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize atleast one component of the smokable material.

FIG. 11 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of the article of FIG.10.

FIG. 12 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of anotherarticle for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material tovolatilize at least one component of the smokable material.

FIG. 13 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of a systemcomprising the article of FIGS. 1 and 2, and an apparatus for heatingthe smokable material of the article to volatilize at least onecomponent of the smokable material.

FIG. 14 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of anothersystem comprising an article comprising smokable material, and anapparatus for heating the smokable material of the article to volatilizeat least one component of the smokable material.

FIG. 15 shows a schematic cross-sectional view of an example of anapparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least onecomponent of the smokable material, the apparatus including as anintegral part the article of FIGS. 1 and 2.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

As used herein, the term “smokable material” includes materials thatprovide volatilized components upon heating, typically in the form ofvapor or an aerosol. “Smokable material” may be a non-tobacco-containingmaterial or a tobacco-containing material. “Smokable material” may, forexample, include one or more of tobacco per se, tobacco derivatives,expanded tobacco, reconstituted tobacco, tobacco extract, homogenizedtobacco or tobacco substitutes. The smokable material can be in the formof ground tobacco, cut rag tobacco, extruded tobacco, reconstitutedtobacco, reconstituted smokable material, liquid, gel, gelled sheet,powder, or agglomerates, or the like. “Smokable material” also mayinclude other, non-tobacco, products, which, depending on the product,may or may not contain nicotine. “Smokable material” may comprise one ormore humectants, such as glycerol or propylene glycol.

As used herein, the term “heating material” or “heater material” refersto material that is heatable by penetration with a varying magneticfield.

Induction heating is a process in which an electrically-conductiveobject is heated by penetrating the object with a varying magneticfield. The process is described by Faraday's law of induction and Ohm'slaw. An induction heater may comprise an electromagnet and a device forpassing a varying electrical current, such as an alternating current,through the electromagnet. When the electromagnet and the object to beheated are suitably relatively positioned so that the resultant varyingmagnetic field produced by the electromagnet penetrates the object, oneor more eddy currents are generated inside the object. The object has aresistance to the flow of electrical currents. Therefore, when such eddycurrents are generated in the object, their flow against the electricalresistance of the object causes the object to be heated. This process iscalled Joule, ohmic, or resistive heating. An object that is capable ofbeing inductively heated is known as a susceptor.

It has been found that, when the susceptor is in the form of a closedcircuit, magnetic coupling between the susceptor and the electromagnetin use is enhanced, which results in greater or improved Joule heating.

Magnetic hysteresis heating is a process in which an object made of amagnetic material is heated by penetrating the object with a varyingmagnetic field. A magnetic material can be considered to comprise manyatomic-scale magnets, or magnetic dipoles. When a magnetic fieldpenetrates such material, the magnetic dipoles align with the magneticfield. Therefore, when a varying magnetic field, such as an alternatingmagnetic field, for example as produced by an electromagnet, penetratesthe magnetic material, the orientation of the magnetic dipoles changeswith the varying applied magnetic field. Such magnetic dipolereorientation causes heat to be generated in the magnetic material.

When an object is both electrically-conductive and magnetic, penetratingthe object with a varying magnetic field can cause both Joule heatingand magnetic hysteresis heating in the object. Moreover, the use ofmagnetic material can strengthen the magnetic field, which can intensifythe Joule heating.

In each of the above processes, as heat is generated inside the objectitself, rather than by an external heat source by heat conduction, arapid temperature rise in the object and more uniform heat distributioncan be achieved, particularly through selection of suitable objectmaterial and geometry, and suitable varying magnetic field magnitude andorientation relative to the object. Moreover, as induction heating andmagnetic hysteresis heating do not require a physical connection to beprovided between the source of the varying magnetic field and theobject, design freedom and control over the heating profile may begreater, and cost may be lower.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, there are shown schematic plan andcross-sectional views of an example of an article according to anembodiment of the disclosure. The article 1 is for use with an apparatusfor heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component ofthe smokable material, such as the apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 13 anddescribed below.

The article 1 comprises a carrier 10 having a surface and pluraldiscrete quantities of smokable material 20 on the surface of thecarrier 10. In this embodiment, the surface is a major surface of thecarrier 10. The carrier 10 of this embodiment is a sheet of mild steelwith a thickness of about 25 μm. However, in other embodiments the sheetmay be made of a different material and/or could have a differentthickness, such as a thickness of between 10 μm and 50 μm. The steel hasa thermal conductivity of over 10 W/(m·K). In some embodiments, the mildsteel may be coated or electroplated with nickel. In such cases, thenickel may for example have a thickness of less than 5 μm, such asbetween 2 μm and 3 μm. Providing the carrier 10 with only a relativelysmall thickness may help to reduce the time required to heat the carrier10 in use.

The carrier 10 has plural thermally-conductive portions 12 on which therespective discrete quantities of smokable material 20 are located. Thediscrete quantities of smokable material 20 are in thermal contact withthe respective thermally-conductive portions 12. Indeed, in thisembodiment, the discrete quantities of smokable material 20 are insurface contact with the respective thermally-conductive portions 12.

Any specific one of the discrete quantities of smokable material 20 isheatable in use by heating the thermally-conductive portion 12 of thecarrier 10 on which the specific quantity of smokable material 20 islocated. Such heating may be achieved in one of many ways. For example,the appropriate thermally-conductive portion 12 may be heated byapplying heat energy to the thermally-conductive portion 12, such as bythermal radiation or thermal conduction. Alternatively, when thethermally-conductive portion 12 of the carrier 10 is made from heatingmaterial that is heatable by penetration with a varying (e.g.alternating) magnetic field, as is the case in this embodiment, thethermally-conductive portion 12 may be heated inductively by penetratingthe thermally-conductive portion 12 with the varying (e.g. alternating)magnetic field. This principle of heating will be described in moredetail below with reference to the apparatus 100 of FIG. 13, which hasplural magnetic field generators for generating varying magnetic fieldsfor penetrating the respective thermally-conductive portions 12 of thecarrier 10 in use.

The article 1 is configured so that one of the discrete quantities ofsmokable material 20 is heatable in use while inhibiting heating ofanother of the discrete quantities of smokable material 20. Morespecifically, between the portions 12 of the carrier 10, the carrier 10is shaped to form thermal barriers 14 for inhibiting heat conductionfrom one of the portions 12 of the carrier 10 towards another of theportions 12 of the carrier 10 in use. That is, the geometry of thecarrier 10 is such as to at least partially thermally insulate thethermally-conductive portions 12 of the carrier 10 from each other, tohelp prevent or reduce heat conduction from one of the portions 12towards another of the portions 12 in use. In this embodiment, thecarrier 10 is shaped to form the thermal barriers 14 between theportions 12 of the carrier 10 and as compared to the portions 12 of thecarrier 10.

In this embodiment, the carrier 10 comprises twelve thermally-conductiveportions 12, and the carrier 10 is shaped to form thermal barriers 14between respective pairs of the portions 12 of the carrier 10. Morespecifically, the carrier 10 is shaped to form plural thermal barriers14 that surround respective ones of the thermally-conductive portions 12of the carrier 10. Therefore, any specific one or plurality of theportions 12 is heatable in use without, or without significant, heatingof any of the other portions 12 of the carrier 10. Therefore, each, or asubset, of the discrete quantities of smokable material 20 on theportions 12 of the carrier 10 is selectively heatable to volatilize atleast one component of the smokable material 20, without heating anyother of the discrete quantities of smokable material 20 to a degreethat would similarly result in such volatilization.

In this embodiment, the twelve thermally-conductive portions 12 of thecarrier 10 are arranged in two rows of six. The thermally-conductiveportions 12 are therefore arranged as a two-dimensional array. In otherembodiments, the carrier 10 may comprise more or fewerthermally-conductive portions 12, and in some embodiments, the portions12 may be arranged as a one-dimensional array, for example. That is, allof the thermally-conductive portions 12 of the carrier 10 may berelatively aligned in a single row, which may be a straight or linearrow.

In this embodiment, each of the thermal barriers 14 comprises aplurality of spaced-apart through holes or perforations 16 through thecarrier 10. The effect of the through holes or perforations 16 is toreduce the cross-sectional area of the carrier 10 at the thermal barrier14, which impairs heat conduction across the thermal barrier 14. Thepresence of air in the through holes or perforations 16 may alsocontribute to the thermal insulation properties. The perforations 16 ofeach thermal barrier 14 are arranged on a circular path that surroundsone of the thermally-conductive portions 12 of the carrier 10. However,in other embodiments, the path may be other than circular, such aspolygonal or elliptical. In this embodiment, each of the perforations 16is itself circular. However, in other embodiments, one or more of theperforations 16 of a thermal barrier 14 may be other than circular, suchas polygonal, elliptical or elongate or slot-shaped.

In this embodiment, each thermal barrier 14 comprises eight throughholes or perforations 16 through the carrier 10. That is, there is atotal of eight holes on the path. However, in other embodiments, one oreach of the thermal barriers 14 may comprise more through holes orperforations 16 through the carrier 10, such as between twenty andthirty holes. In some embodiments, one or each of the thermal barriers14 may comprise fewer holes 16 through the carrier 10. For example, insome embodiments, the thermal barrier 14 may comprise or consist of onlyone or two holes 16 through the carrier 10. In such embodiment, thethrough hole(s) 16 may be elongate or slot-shaped in the plane of thecarrier, so as to sufficiently resist the conduction of heat across thethermal barrier 14.

The perforations 16 may be formed by laser etching the carrier 10, bypunching the carrier 10, or by any other suitable method.

In some variations to this embodiment, the, or each, thermal barrier 14of the carrier 10 may comprise one or more channels or blind holes inthe carrier 10. The one or more channels or blind holes may be providedin addition to, or instead of, the through hole(s) or perforations 16discussed above.

For example, referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, there are shown schematic planand cross-sectional views of an example of an article according toanother embodiment of the disclosure. The article 2 is for use with anapparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least onecomponent of the smokable material, such as the apparatus 100 shown inFIG. 13 and described below.

In this embodiment, the article 2 is identical to the article 1 of FIGS.1 and 2, except for the form of the thermal barriers 14. In thisembodiment, each of the thermal barriers 14 comprises a channel 18 inthe carrier 10. That is, the channel 18 is formed as a depression in asurface or side of the carrier 10, with which surface or side thediscrete quantities of smokable material 20 are in surface contact. Theeffect of the channel 18 is to thin the carrier 10 at the barrier 14, soas to reduce the cross-sectional area of the carrier 10 at the thermalbarrier 14 to therefore impair heat conduction across the thermalbarrier 14. The channel 18 of each thermal barrier 14 is circular andsurrounds one of the thermally-conductive portions 12 of the carrier 10.However, in other embodiments, the channel 18 of the, or each, thermalbarrier 14 of the carrier 10 may be other than circular, such aspolygonal or elliptical. In some embodiments, the channels 18 or blindholes may not surround the respective thermally-conductive portions 12of the carrier 10. In some such embodiments, the channels 18 or blindholes may be linear or non-linear, such as arcuate.

In this embodiment, each thermal barrier 14 comprises one channel 18 inthe carrier 10. However, in other embodiments, a thermal barrier 14 maycomprise more than one channel or blind hole in the carrier 10, such asbetween two and thirty channels or blind holes. In some embodiments, thechannels or blind holes may be elongate or slot-shaped to help resistthe conduction of heat across the thermal barrier 14.

In this embodiment, the channels 18 of the thermal barriers 14 may beformed by pressing, etching or embossing the carrier 10, for example. Itwill be noted from FIG. 4 that the side of the carrier 10 opposite thaton which the discrete quantities of smokable material 20 are located issubstantially flat. In other embodiments, that may not be true, and thatmay be due to the form of channel(s) or blind hole(s) of the thermalbarriers 14.

For example, referring to FIGS. 5 and 6, there are shown schematic planand cross-sectional views of an example of an article according toanother embodiment of the disclosure. The article 3 is for use with anapparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least onecomponent of the smokable material, such as the apparatus 100 shown inFIG. 13 and described below.

In this embodiment, the article 3 is identical to the article 2 of FIGS.3 and 4, except for the form of the thermal barriers 14. In thisembodiment, each of the thermal barriers 14 comprises a channel 18 thatis embossed in the carrier 10 to the extent that a floor of the channel18 protrudes from the side of the carrier 10 opposite that on which thediscrete quantities of smokable material 20 are located. The effect ofeach of the channels 18 is to lengthen the carrier 10 along a route thatextends from one of the thermally-conductive portions 12 to another ofthe thermally-conductive portions 12 via the floor of the channel 18.This increases the surface area of the carrier at the thermal barrier14, to help dissipate heat from the carrier 10 at the thermal barrier 14and thus impair heat conduction across the thermal barrier 14.

The channel 18 of each thermal barrier 14 is circular and surrounds oneof the thermally-conductive portions 12 of the carrier 10. However, inother embodiments, the channel or blind hole of the, or each, thermalbarrier 14 of the carrier 10 may be other than circular, such aspolygonal or elliptical. In some embodiments, the channels or blindholes may not surround the respective thermally-conductive portions 12of the carrier 10. In some such embodiments, the channels 18 or blindholes may be linear or non-linear, such as arcuate.

In this embodiment, each thermal barrier 14 comprises one channel 18 inthe carrier 10. However, in other embodiments, a thermal barrier 14 maycomprise more than one channel 18 or blind hole in the carrier 10, suchas between two and thirty channels or blind holes. In some embodiments,the channels or blind holes may be elongate or slot-shaped to increasethe surface area of the carrier 10 adequately to help resist theconduction of heat across the thermal barrier 14.

In this embodiment, a mass of thermally-insulating material 19 islocated in the channel 18 of each of the thermal barriers 14. At eachthermal barrier 14, the thermally-insulating material 19 helps tofurther reduce the transfer of heat energy from the thermally-conductiveportion 12 on one side of the thermal barrier 14 towards the other sideof the thermal barrier 14. In some embodiments, the thermally-insulatingmaterial 19 has a lower thermal conductivity than air. Thethermally-insulating material 19 may be a polymer or plastics materialsuch as polyether ether ketone (PEEK), or a cellulosic material such aswood or paper, or reconstituted tobacco. In some embodiments, thethermally-insulating material has a thermal conductivity of no more than0.5 W/(m·K).

As variations to the embodiments discussed above with reference to FIGS.3 and 4, a mass of thermally-insulating material may be located in thechannels or blind holes of the thermal barriers 14 of the article 2 orits disclosed variants. Such a mass of thermally-insulating material maycomprise any of the materials discussed in the preceding paragraph.

Referring to FIG. 7, there is shown a schematic cross-sectional view ofan example of an article according to another embodiment of thedisclosure. The article 4 is for use with an apparatus for heatingsmokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokablematerial, such as the apparatus 200 of the system 2000 shown in FIG. 14and described below.

The article 4 comprises a carrier 10 having a surface and smokablematerial 20 on the surface of the carrier 10. In this embodiment, thesurface is a major surface of the carrier 10. The smokable material 20is in the form of a gel or thin film.

In this embodiment, the carrier 10 is a sheet of aluminum. The aluminum,and thus the carrier 10, has a thermal conductivity of at least 200W/(m·K), such as about 237 W/(m·K). Accordingly, in use the carrier 10transfers heat energy to the smokable material 20 from the side of thecarrier 10 opposite to that on which the smokable material 20 islocated.

In this embodiment, the smokable material 20 is coextensive orsubstantially coextensive with the surface of the carrier 10. That is,the smokable material 20 covers all, or substantially all, of thesurface of the carrier 10. In other embodiments, this may not be true.For example, in some embodiments, the smokable material 20 covers amajority of the surface of the carrier 10. In other embodiments, thesmokable material 20 comprises plural discrete quantities of thesmokable material on the surface of the carrier 10.

For example, referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, there are shown schematic planand cross-sectional views of an example of an article according toanother embodiment of the disclosure. The article 5 is for use with anapparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least onecomponent of the smokable material, such as the apparatus 200 of thesystem 2000 shown in FIG. 14 and described below.

In this embodiment, the article 5 is identical to the article 4 of FIG.7, except for the form of the smokable material 20. In this embodiment,the smokable material 20 comprises plural discrete quantities of thesmokable material 20 on the surface of the carrier 10. The carrier 10comprises plural thermally-conductive portions 12 on which therespective discrete quantities of smokable material 20 are located.

During use either of the article 4 of FIG. 7 or the article 5 of FIGS. 8and 9, heat energy may be applied to the carrier 10 (or one of thethermally-conductive portions 12 of the carrier 10) on a side of thecarrier 10 opposite to that on which the smokable material 20 islocated. When this happens, the heat energy is conducted by the carrier10 (or thermally-conductive portions 12) to the smokable material 20. Asa result, at least one component of the smokable material 20 (or adiscrete quantity of the smokable material 20) may be volatilized forinhalation by a user.

Referring to FIGS. 10 and 11, there are shown schematic plan andcross-sectional views of an example of an article according to anotherembodiment of the disclosure. The article 6 is for use with an apparatusfor heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component ofthe smokable material, such as the apparatus 100 shown in FIG. 13 anddescribed below.

In this embodiment, the article 6 is identical to the article 1 of FIGS.1 and 2, except for the form of the carrier 10. In this embodiment, thecarrier 10 comprises a laminate. The laminate comprises a layer ofnickel 10 b and a layer of aluminum 10 a. The layer of aluminum 10 a islocated between the layer of nickel 10 b and the smokable material 20.In this embodiment, the smokable material 20 is in contact with thelayer of aluminum 10 a. In other embodiments, the positions of the layerof aluminum and layer of nickel may be reversed, so that the layer ofnickel is located between the layer of aluminum and the smokablematerial 20. In some such embodiments, the smokable material 20 may bein contact with the layer of nickel.

As for the article 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2, the carrier 10 has pluralthermally-conductive portions 12 on which the respective discretequantities of smokable material 20 are located. The article 6 isconfigured so that one of the discrete quantities of smokable material20 is heatable in use while inhibiting heating of another of thediscrete quantities of smokable material 20. More specifically, betweenthe portions 12 of the carrier 10, and as compared to the portions 12 ofthe carrier 10, the carrier 10 is shaped to form thermal barriers 14 forinhibiting heat conduction from one of the portions 12 of the carrier 10towards another of the portions 12 of the carrier 10 in use.

In this embodiment, each of the thermal barriers 14 comprises aplurality of spaced-apart through holes or perforations 16 through thelayer of nickel 10 b. As for the article 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2, the effectof the through holes or perforations 16 is to reduce the cross-sectionalarea of the carrier 10 at the thermal barrier 14, which impairs heatconduction across the thermal barrier 14. The perforations 16 throughthe layer of nickel 10 b are the same in number and arrangement as theperforations through the carrier 10 of the article 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2.However, in other embodiments, modifications to the path on which theperforations lie, and/or the shape and/or number of the perforations 16may be varied as discussed above in relation to article 1.

Referring to FIG. 12, there is shown a schematic cross-sectional view ofan example of an article according to another embodiment of thedisclosure. The article 7 is for use with an apparatus for heatingsmokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokablematerial, such as the apparatus 200 of the system 2000 shown in FIG. 14and described below.

In this embodiment, the article 7 is identical to the article 4 of FIG.7, except for the form of the carrier 10. In this embodiment, thecarrier 10 comprises a laminate. The laminate comprises a layer ofnickel 10 b and a layer of paper 10 a. The layer of paper 10 a islocated between the layer of nickel 10 b and the smokable material 20.In this embodiment, the smokable material 20 is in contact with thelayer of paper 10 a. The layer of paper 10 a aids fixing of the smokablematerial 20 relative to the layer of nickel 10 b. Portions of the layerof nickel 10 b are heatable inductively, and the layer of paper 10 a hasa thickness that permits sufficient heat energy to pass from the layerof nickel 10 b to the smokable material 20 in use, to thereby cause atleast one component of the smokable material 20 to be volatilized forinhalation by a user.

In each of the articles 1, 2, 3, 6 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 and FIGS. 10and 11, the carrier 10 comprises heating material that is heatable bypenetration with a varying magnetic field. There will now be describedan apparatus 100 with which these articles 1, 2, 3, 6 are usable, andwhich comprises magnetic field generators for generating varyingmagnetic fields for penetrating the respective thermally-conductiveportions 12 of the carrier 10 in use.

Referring to FIG. 13, there is shown a schematic cross-sectional view ofan example of a system according to an embodiment of the disclosure. Thesystem 1000 comprises an apparatus 100 and the article 1 of FIGS. 1 and2. The apparatus 100 is for heating the smokable material 20 of thearticle 1 to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material20. In the interest of conciseness, the article 1 will not be describedagain in detail. Any of the herein-described possible variations to thearticle 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2 may be made to the article 1 of the system1000 of FIG. 13 to form separate respective embodiments of a system.Similarly, the article 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2 may be replaced in the system1000 by one of the articles 2, 3, 6 shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, 10 and 11 toform separate respective embodiments of a system.

The apparatus 100 comprises a heating zone 110 for receiving at least aportion of the article 1, and a heating device 120 for heating thethermally-conductive portions 12 of the carrier 10 of the article 1 whenthe article 1 is located in the heating zone 110.

In this embodiment, the heating zone 110 comprises a recess forreceiving the article 1. The article 1 may be insertable into theheating zone 110 by a user in any suitable manner, such as through aslot in a wall of the apparatus 100, or by first moving a portion of theapparatus, such as the mouthpiece discussed below, to access to theheating zone 110. In other embodiments, the heating zone 110 may beother than a recess, such as a shelf, a surface, or a projection, andmay require mechanical mating with the article 1 in order to co-operatewith, or receive, the article 1. In this embodiment, the heating zone110 is sized and shaped to accommodate the whole article 1. In otherembodiments, the heating zone 110 may be dimensioned to receive only aportion of the article in use.

The apparatus 100 has an outlet 140 for permitting volatilizedcomponents of the smokable material 20 to pass from the heating zone 110to an exterior of the apparatus 100 when the smokable material 20 isheated in the heating zone 110 in use. In this embodiment, the outlet140 is in the form of a mouthpiece for insertion into a user's mouth.The apparatus 100 also has an air inlet 150 that fluidly connects theheating zone 110 with the exterior of the apparatus 100. In use, a useris able to inhale the volatilized component(s) of the smokable material20 by drawing the volatilized component(s) through the outlet 140. Asthe volatilized component(s) is/are removed from the heating zone 110,air may be drawn into the heating zone 110 via the air inlet 150.

The heating device 120 comprises plural heaters 121, 122 for heatingrespective ones of the thermally-conductive portions 12 a, 12 b of thecarrier 10 of the article 1 in use. As noted above with reference toFIGS. 1 and 2, the thermally-conductive portions 12 a, 12 b of thecarrier 10 are made of heating material that is heatable by penetrationwith respective varying magnetic fields. In this embodiment, the heaters121, 122 comprise respective magnetic field generators 121, 122 forgenerating the varying (such as alternating) magnetic fields forpenetrating the respective thermally-conductive portions 12 a, 12 b inuse. More specifically, the magnetic field generators 121, 122 compriserespective coils 121, 122.

The coils 121, 122 may take any suitable form. In this embodiment, eachof the coils 121, 122 comprises a flat coil of electrically-conductivematerial, such as copper. That is, the coils are two-dimensionalspirals. The coils are substantially circular in this embodiment, but inother embodiments they may take a different shape, such as generallysquare. In other embodiments, the coils may take a still different form,such as helical coils of electrically-conductive material.

The apparatus 100 of this embodiment comprises a printed circuit board130, on or in which the coils 121, 122 are located. The coils may beprinted on the printed circuit board 130. This arrangement may berelatively low cost, allows for many coils to be integrated within asingle printed circuit board and/or with drive electronics to form asingle solid state device that may make efficient use of space, and maybe open to mass production such as using manufacturing lines already setup for the manufacture of passive printed circuit boards. Further, suchan arrangement has been found to show very good reproducibility inproperties (e.g. complex and real impedance).

The apparatus 100 of this embodiment also comprises a controller 124 forcontrolling operation of the heaters 121, 122. The apparatus furthercomprises an electrical power source 126 that is connected to thecontroller 124. In use, the controller 124 may cause a varyingelectrical current, such as an alternating current, to pass from theelectrical power source 126 through the coils 121, 122, thereby to causethe coils to generate the respective varying magnetic fields.

In this embodiment, the controller 124 comprises an integrated circuit(IC), such as an IC on a printed circuit board (PCB). In otherembodiments, the controller 124 may take a different form. Thecontroller 124 is operated in this embodiment by user-operation of auser interface (not shown) of the apparatus 100. The user interface 118may comprise a push-button, a toggle switch, a dial, a touchscreen, orthe like.

The electrical power source 126 of this embodiment is a rechargeablebattery. In other embodiments, the electrical power source 126 may beother than a rechargeable battery, such as a non-rechargeable battery, acapacitor, a battery-capacitor hybrid, or a connection to a mainselectricity supply.

Accordingly, when the article 1 is located in the heating zone 110 inuse, operation of the user interface by a user causes the controller 124to cause an alternating electrical current to pass through each of thecoils 121, 122, so as to cause the coils 121, 22 to generate respectivealternating magnetic fields. The coils 121, 122 and thethermally-conductive portions 12 a, 12 b of the carrier 10 of thearticle 1 are suitably relatively positioned so that the varyingmagnetic fields produced by the coils 121, 122 penetrate the respectivethermally-conductive portions 12 a, 12 b of the carrier 10 of thearticle 1. When the heating material of the portions 12 a, 12 b of thecarrier 10 is an electrically-conductive material, as in thisembodiment, this causes the generation of one or more eddy currents inthe heating material. The flow of eddy currents in the heating materialagainst the electrical resistance of the heating material causes theheating material to be heated by Joule heating. Further, when theheating material is made of a magnetic material, as in this embodiment,the orientation of magnetic dipoles in the heating material changes withthe changing applied magnetic field, which causes heat to be generatedin the heating material.

The controller 124 of this embodiment is for controlling operation of atleast one of the heaters 121, 122 independently of at least one other ofthe heaters 121, 122. Therefore, for example, the controller 124 maycontrol a first of the heaters 121, 122 to inductively heat a first 12 aof the thermally-conductive portions 12 of the carrier 10. Thisinitiates volatilization of at least one component of the smokablematerial 20 a on that first portion 12 a of the carrier 10 and formationof an aerosol therein. Over time, the controller 124 may control asecond of the heaters 122 to inductively heat a second 12 b of thethermally-conductive portions 12 of the carrier 10. This initiatesvolatilization of at least one component of the smokable material 20 bon that second portion 12 b of the carrier 10 and formation of anaerosol therein. Accordingly, there is provided progressive heating ofthe article 1, and thus the smokable material 20 of the article 1, overtime.

In this embodiment, the first heater 121 and the firstthermally-conductive portion 12 a of the carrier 10 are closer to theoutlet 140 than the second heater 122 and the secondthermally-conductive portion 12 b of the carrier 10. This helps toenable an aerosol to be formed and released relatively rapidly from thearticle 1 at a location relatively close to the outlet 140, forinhalation by a user, yet provides time-dependent release of aerosol, sothat aerosol continues to be formed and released even after the smokablematerial 20 on the first portion 12 a of the carrier 10 has ceasedgenerating aerosol. Such cessation of aerosol generation may occur as aresult of the smokable material 20 on the first portion 12 a of thecarrier 10 becoming exhausted of volatilizable components of thesmokable material 20.

The apparatus 100 may comprise a temperature sensor (not shown) forsensing a temperature of the heating zone 110 or of the article 1. Thetemperature sensor may be communicatively connected to the controller124, so that the controller 124 is able to monitor the temperature. Onthe basis of one or more signals received from the temperature sensor,the controller 124 may adjust a characteristic of the varying oralternating electrical current passed through the coils 121, 122 asnecessary, in order to ensure that the temperature of the smokablematerial 20 remains within a predetermined temperature range. Thecharacteristic may be, for example, amplitude or frequency or dutycycle. Within the predetermined temperature range, in use the smokablematerial 20 is heated sufficiently to volatilize at least one componentof the smokable material 20 without combusting the smokable material 20.Accordingly, the controller 124, and the apparatus 100 as a whole, isarranged to heat the smokable material 20 to volatilize the at least onecomponent of the smokable material 20 without combusting the smokablematerial 20. In some embodiments, the temperature range is about 50° C.to about 350° C., such as between about 50° C. and about 250° C.,between about 50° C. and about 150° C., between about 50° C. and about120° C., between about 50° C. and about 100° C., between about 50° C.and about 80° C., or between about 60° C. and about 70° C. In someembodiments, the temperature range is between about 170° C. and about220° C. In other embodiments, the temperature range may be other thanthis range. In some embodiments, the upper limit of the temperaturerange could be greater than 300° C. In some embodiments, the temperaturesensor may be omitted. In some embodiments, the heating material mayhave a Curie point temperature selected on the basis of the maximumtemperature to which it is desired to heat the heating material, so thatfurther heating above that temperature by induction heating the heatingmaterial is hindered or prevented.

Referring to FIG. 14 there is shown a schematic cross-sectional view ofan example of another system according to an embodiment of thedisclosure. The system 2000 comprises an apparatus 200 and the article 5of FIGS. 8 and 9. The apparatus 200 is for heating the smokable material20 of the article 5 to volatilize at least one component of the smokablematerial 20. In the interest of conciseness, the article 5 will not bedescribed again in detail. Any of the herein-described possiblevariations to the article 5 of FIGS. 8 and 9 may be made to the article5 of the system 2000 of FIG. 14 to form separate respective embodimentsof a system. Similarly, the article 5 of FIGS. 8 and 9 may be replacedin the system 2000 by one of the articles 4, 7 shown in FIGS. 7 and 12to form separate respective embodiments of a system.

The apparatus 200 of FIG. 14 is identical to the apparatus 100 of thesystem 1000 of FIG. 13 except that, whereas the apparatus 100 isarranged to heat the thermally-conductive portions 12 a, 12 b of thecarrier 10 of the article 1 inductively by penetrating thethermally-conductive portions 12 with the varying (e.g. alternating)magnetic field, the apparatus 200 of FIG. 14 heats thethermally-conductive portions 12 of the carrier 10 of the article 5 byheat conduction. That is, in the system 2000 of FIG. 14, the apparatus200 applies heat energy to the thermally-conductive portions 12 a, 12 bof the article 5 to heat the smokable material 20.

The apparatus 200 comprises a heating zone 110 for receiving at least aportion of the article 5, and a substrate 30 comprising pluralthermally-conductive portions 32 a, 32 b. Between the portions 32 a, 32b of the substrate 30, the substrate 30 is shaped to create a thermalbarrier 34 for inhibiting heat conduction from one of the portions 32 a,32 b of the substrate 30 towards another of the thermally-conductiveportions 32 a, 32 b of the substrate 30 in use. In this embodiment, thesubstrate 30 is shaped to form the thermal barrier 34 between theportions 32 a, 32 b of the substrate 30 and as compared to the portions32 a, 32 b of the substrate 30. Each of the thermally-conductiveportions 32 a, 32 b of the substrate 30 is made from heating materialthat is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field. In thisembodiment, the substrate 30 (and thus the thermally-conductive portions32 a, 32 b of the substrate 30) comprises steel that is nickel-coated tohelp prevent corrosion. In other embodiments, the substrate 30 (and thusthe thermally-conductive portions 32 a, 32 b of the substrate 30)comprises aluminum. The aluminum may be nickel-coated, again to helpprevent corrosion.

In this embodiment, the substrate 30 comprises twelvethermally-conductive portions 32 a, 32 b, and the substrate 30 is shapedto form thermal barriers 34 between respective pairs of the portions 32a, 32 b of the substrate 30. More specifically, the substrate 30 isshaped to form plural thermal barriers 34 that surround respective onesof the thermally-conductive portions 32 a, 32 b of the substrate 30.Therefore, any specific one or plurality of the portions 32 a, 32 b isheatable in use without, or without significant, heating of any of theother portions 32 a, 32 b of the substrate 30.

In this embodiment, the twelve thermally-conductive portions 32 a, 32 bof the substrate 30 are arranged in two rows of six. Thethermally-conductive portions 32 a, 32 b are therefore arranged as atwo-dimensional array. In other embodiments, the substrate 30 maycomprise more or fewer thermally-conductive portions 32 a, 32 b, and insome embodiments, the portions 32 a, 32 b may be arranged as aone-dimensional array, for example. That is, all of thethermally-conductive portions 32 a, 32 b of the substrate 30 may berelatively aligned in a single row, which may be a straight or linearrow.

In this embodiment, each of the thermal barriers 34 in the substrate 30comprises a plurality of spaced-apart through holes or perforationsthrough the substrate 30. The effect of the through holes orperforations is to reduce the cross-sectional area of the substrate 30at the thermal barrier 34, which impairs heat conduction across thethermal barrier 34. The presence of air in the through holes orperforations may also contribute to the thermal insulation properties.The perforations of each thermal barrier 34 are arranged on a circularpath that surrounds one of the thermally-conductive portions 32 a, 32 bof the substrate 30. However, in other embodiments, the path may beother than circular, such as polygonal or elliptical. In thisembodiment, each of the perforations is itself circular. However, inother embodiments, one or more of the perforations of a thermal barrier34 may be other than circular, such as polygonal, elliptical or elongateor slot-shaped.

In this embodiment, each thermal barrier 34 comprises eight throughholes or perforations through the substrate 30. That is, there is atotal of eight holes on the path. However, in other embodiments, one oreach of the thermal barriers 34 may comprise more through holes orperforations through the substrate 30, such as between twenty and thirtyholes. In some embodiments, one or each of the thermal barriers 34 maycomprise fewer holes through the substrate 30. For example, in someembodiments, the thermal barrier 34 may comprise or consist of only oneor two holes through the substrate 30. In such embodiment, the throughhole(s) may be elongate or slot-shaped in the plane of the substrate 30,so as to sufficiently resist the conduction of heat across the thermalbarrier 34.

The perforations may be formed by laser etching the substrate 30, bypunching the substrate 30, or by any other suitable method.

In some variations to this embodiment, the, or each, thermal barrier 34of the substrate 30 may comprise one or more channels or blind holes inthe substrate 30. The one or more channels or blind holes may beprovided in addition to, or instead of, the through hole(s) orperforations discussed above.

The apparatus 200 also comprises a heating device 120 for heating one ora subset of the thermally-conductive portions 32 a, 32 b of thesubstrate 30 to thereby heat portions of the heating zone 110. Theheating device 120 of the apparatus 200 of FIG. 14 is the same as theheating device 120 of the apparatus 100 of FIG. 13. However, rather thanbeing arranged to inductively heat thermally-conductive portions of thearticle 5 located in the heating zone 110, the heating device 120 of theapparatus 200 of FIG. 14 is used to inductively heat thethermally-conductive portions 32 a, 32 b of the substrate 30 of theapparatus 200. That is, the plural heaters 121, 122 comprise respectivemagnetic field generators for generating varying magnetic fields forpenetrating the respective thermally-conductive portions 32 a, 32 b ofthe substrate 30 in use. The heat generated in the thermally-conductiveportions 32 a, 32 b of the substrate 30 passes to the article 5 in theheating zone 110 by way of heat conduction.

Accordingly, the carrier 10 of the article 5 with which the apparatus200 is usable need not be made of a material that is readily inductivelyheatable to heat the smokable material 20 to a temperature sufficient tovolatilize at least one component of the smokable material 20. This mayenable the carrier 10 to be made of cheaper or more readily-availablematerial.

Similarly to the controller 124 of the apparatus 100, the controller 124of the apparatus 200 is for controlling operation of at least one of theplural heaters 121, 122 independently of at least one other of theplural heaters 121, 122. Thus, the apparatus 200 is usable to provideprogressive heating of the article 5, and thus the smokable material 20of the article 5, over time in a manner similar to the apparatus 100 ofFIG. 13.

For example, the controller 124 may control a first of the heaters 121,122 to inductively heat a first 32 a of the thermally-conductiveportions 32 of the substrate 30. This in turn causes a firstthermally-conductive portion 12 a of the carrier 10 of the article 5adjacent the first thermally-conductive portion 32 a of the substrate 30to be heated by heat conduction. This initiates volatilization of atleast one component of the smokable material 20 a on that first portion12 a of the carrier 10 and formation of an aerosol therein. Over time,the controller 124 may control a second of the heaters 122 toinductively heat a second 32 b of the thermally-conductive portions 32of the substrate 30. This in turn causes a second thermally-conductiveportion 12 b of the carrier 10 of the article 5 adjacent the secondthermally-conductive portion 32 b of the substrate 30 to be heated byheat conduction. This initiates volatilization of at least one componentof the smokable material 20 b on that second portion 12 b of the carrier10 and formation of an aerosol therein.

The article 5 of FIGS. 8 and 9 may be replaced in the system 2000 by oneof the articles 1, 2, 3, 6 shown in FIGS. 1 to 6 and FIGS. 10 and 11 toform separate respective embodiments of a system. In such systems, thearticle and the apparatus 200 may be relatively arrange so that thethermally-conductive portions 12 of the carrier 10 of the article 1, 2,3, 6 align with the thermally-conductive portions 32 a, 32 b of thesubstrate 30 of the apparatus 200 when the article 1, 2, 3, 6 is in theheating zone 110.

In some embodiments, the apparatus 100, 200 is sold, supplied orotherwise provided separately from the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 withwhich the apparatus 100, 200 is usable. However, in some embodiments,the apparatus 100, 200 and one or more of the articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6may be provided together as a system, such as a kit or an assembly,possibly with additional components, such as cleaning utensils.

In each of the above described embodiments, the article 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6is a consumable article. Once all, or substantially all, of thevolatilizable component(s) of the smokable material 20 in the article 1,2, 3, 4, 5, 6 has/have been spent, the user may remove the article 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6 from the apparatus 100, 200 and dispose of the article 1, 2,3, 4, 5, 6. The user may subsequently re-use the apparatus 100, 200 withanother of the articles 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. However, in other respectiveembodiments, the article may be non-consumable, and the apparatus andthe article may be disposed of together once the volatilizablecomponent(s) of the smokable material has/have been spent.

For example, referring to FIG. 15, there is shown a schematiccross-sectional view of an example of another apparatus according to anembodiment of the disclosure. The apparatus 300 itself comprises thearticle 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2, and the apparatus 300 is for heating thesmokable material 20 of the article 1 to volatilize at least onecomponent of the smokable material 20. In the interest of conciseness,the article 1 will not be described again in detail. Any of theherein-described possible variations to the article 1 of FIGS. 1 and 2may be made to the article 1 of the apparatus 300 of FIG. 15 to formseparate respective embodiments of an apparatus. Similarly, the article1 of FIGS. 1 and 2 may be replaced in the apparatus 300 by one of thearticles 2, 3, 6 shown in FIGS. 3 to 6, 10 and 11 to form separaterespective embodiments of an apparatus.

The apparatus 300 of FIG. 15 is identical to the apparatus 100 of thesystem 1000 of FIG. 13 except that, whereas the apparatus 100 isarranged for the article 1 to be insertable into the heating zone 110 bya user, in the apparatus 300 of FIG. 15 the article 1 is not insertableinto the heating zone 110 by a user. That is, in the apparatus 300 ofFIG. 15, the article 1 is an integral part of the apparatus 300.Accordingly, in use, the heating device 120 of the apparatus 300 is usedto inductively heat the thermally-conductive portions 12 a, 12 b of thecarrier 10 of the article 1, thereby to volatilize at least onecomponent of the smokable material 20 a, 20 b on thethermally-conductive portions 12 a, 12 b of the carrier 10 and form anaerosol therein. The controller 124 of the apparatus 300 may effectprogressive heating of the article 1, and thus the smokable material 20of the article 1, over time in a manner corresponding to that describedabove. The apparatus 300 may be used so that aerosol continues to beformed and released over time, until for example the smokable material20 a, 20 b becomes exhausted of volatilizable components of the smokablematerial.

In each of the embodiments discussed above the heating material issteel. However, in other embodiments, the heating material may compriseone or more materials selected from the group consisting of: anelectrically-conductive material, a magnetic material, and a magneticelectrically-conductive material. In some embodiments, the heatingmaterial may comprise a metal or a metal alloy. In some embodiments, theheating material may comprise one or more materials selected from thegroup consisting of: aluminum, gold, iron, nickel, cobalt, conductivecarbon, graphite, plain-carbon steel, stainless steel, ferriticstainless steel, copper, and bronze. Other heating material(s) may beused in other embodiments. It has been found that, when magneticelectrically-conductive material is used as the heating material,magnetic coupling between the magnetic electrically-conductive materialand an electromagnet of the apparatus in use may be enhanced. Inaddition to potentially enabling magnetic hysteresis heating, this canresult in greater or improved Joule heating of the heating material, andthus greater or improved heating of the smokable material.

The heating material may have a skin depth, which is an exterior zonewithin which most of an induced electrical current and/or inducedreorientation of magnetic dipoles occurs. By providing that the heatingmaterial has a relatively small thickness, a greater proportion of theheating material may be heatable by a given varying magnetic field, ascompared to heating material having a depth or thickness that isrelatively large as compared to the other dimensions of the heatingmaterial. Thus, a more efficient use of material is achieved and, inturn, costs are reduced.

In many of the above-described embodiments, the thermally-conductiveportion(s) 12, 32 of the carrier 10 or substrate 30 are heatedinductively by penetrating the thermally-conductive portion(s) 12, 32with a varying (e.g. alternating) magnetic field. In other embodiments,the heating device 120 of the apparatus 100, 200, 300 may be free froman induction heater. In some such embodiments, the electrical energy inthe heaters 121, 122 may be converted straight into heat energy forheating the thermally-conductive portion(s) 12, 32 of the carrier 10 orsubstrate 30. That is, the heaters 121, 122 may heat up so that thethermally-conductive portion(s) 12, 32 of the carrier 10 or substrate 30are heated by a process that involves heat conduction only, in place ofinduction.

As noted above, the portion(s) 12, 32 of the carrier 10 or substrate 30are thermally-conductive. To ensure that these portions are sufficientlythermally-conductive, in some embodiments the carrier 10 or substrate 30has, or comprises, a material having a thermal conductivity of at least10 W/(m·K). In one embodiment, the thermal conductivity is at least 90W/(m·K). In another embodiment, the thermal conductivity is at least 200W/(m·K). Example materials and associated thermal conductivities for thecarrier 10 and/or substrate 30 are: silver (429 W/(m·K)), copper (401W/(m·K)), gold (310 W/(m·K)), brass (109 W/(m·K)), nickel (91 W/(m·K)),platinum (70 W/(m·K)), cast iron (55 W/(m·K)), carbon steel (max 0.5%carbon) (54 W/(m·K)), and carbon steel (max 1.5% carbon) (36 W/(m·K)).The better a thermally-conductive portion 12, 32 is at conducting heat,the more readily the heat may spread out within the portion 12, 32,which may help increase the uniformity of heating of the portion 12, 32in use. However, if the thermally-conductive portion 12, 32 isrelatively less thermally-conductive, relative uniformity of heating ofthe portion 12, 32 may still be achieved through use of the flat coil(s)described herein to cause the heating inductively. That is, if the heatsource is in the form of a flat uniform plate, as it tends to be for aflat coil, then the thermal-conductivity of the portion 12, 32 tends tobe less important.

In each of the above described embodiments, the smokable materialcomprises tobacco. However, in respective variations to each of theseembodiments, the smokable material may consist of tobacco, may consistsubstantially entirely of tobacco, may comprise tobacco and smokablematerial other than tobacco, may comprise smokable material other thantobacco, or may be free from tobacco. In some embodiments, the smokablematerial may comprise a vapor or aerosol forming agent or a humectant,such as glycerol, propylene glycol, triacetin, or diethylene glycol.

In each of the above described embodiments, the smokable material is inthe form of a gel or thin film. However, in other embodiments, thesmokable material may be in a different form. For example, the smokablematerial may take the form of a liquid or a non-liquid, such as a solid.

In order to address various issues and advance the art, the entirety ofthis disclosure shows by way of illustration and example variousembodiments in which the claimed invention may be practiced and whichprovide for superior articles for use with an apparatus for heatingsmokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokablematerial, a superior apparatus for heating smokable material tovolatilize at least one component of the smokable material, and superiorsystems comprising such an article and such an apparatus. The advantagesand features of the disclosure are of a representative sample ofembodiments only, and are not exhaustive and/or exclusive. They arepresented only to assist in understanding and teach the claimed andotherwise disclosed features. It is to be understood that advantages,embodiments, examples, functions, features, structures and/or otheraspects of the disclosure are not to be considered limitations on thedisclosure as defined by the claims or limitations on equivalents to theclaims, and that other embodiments may be utilized and modifications maybe made without departing from the scope and/or spirit of thedisclosure. Various embodiments may suitably comprise, consist of, orconsist in essence of, various combinations of the disclosed elements,components, features, parts, steps, means, etc. The disclosure mayinclude other inventions not presently claimed, but which may be claimedin future.

1. An article for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material tovolatilize at least one component of the smokable material, the articlecomprising: a carrier having plural thermally-conductive portions onwhich are locatable respective discrete quantities of smokable material;wherein, between the plural thermally-conductive portions of thecarrier, the carrier is shaped differently compared to thethermally-conductive portions to form a thermal barrier for inhibitingheat conduction from one or more of the plural thermally-conductiveportions of the carrier towards another of the pluralthermally-conductive portions of the carrier in use.
 2. The article ofclaim 1, comprising the respective discrete quantities of smokablematerial on the plural thermally-conductive portions of the carrier. 3.The article of claim 2, wherein the smokable material is in the form ofa gel or thin film.
 4. The article of claim 1, wherein the, or each,thermal barrier surrounds a respective one of the pluralthermally-conductive portions of the carrier.
 5. The article of claim 1,wherein the, or each, thermal barrier comprises one or more holesthrough the carrier.
 6. The article of claim 1, wherein the, or each,thermal barrier comprises one or more channels or blind holes in thecarrier.
 7. The article of claim 1, wherein each of the pluralthermally-conductive portions of the carrier is made from heatingmaterial that is heatable by penetration with a varying magnetic field.8. An article for use with an apparatus for heating smokable material tovolatilize at least one component of the smokable material, the articlecomprising: a carrier having a surface; and smokable material, in theform of a gel or a thin film, on the surface of the carrier.
 9. Thearticle of claim 8, wherein the smokable material is coextensive withthe surface of the carrier.
 10. The article of claim 8, wherein thesmokable material comprises plural discrete quantities of the smokablematerial on the surface of the carrier.
 11. The article of claim 1,wherein the carrier is a sheet.
 12. The article of claim 1, wherein thecarrier has, or comprises a material having, a thermal conductivity ofat least 10 W/(m·K).
 13. The article of claim 1, wherein the carriercomprises at least one of nickel or aluminum.
 14. An apparatus forheating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of thesmokable material, the apparatus comprising: the article of claim 1; anda heating device for heating the thermally-conductive portions of thecarrier.
 15. A system for heating smokable material to volatilize atleast one component of the smokable material, the system comprising: thearticle of claim 1; and an apparatus comprising a heating zone forreceiving the article, and a heating device for heating the pluralthermally-conductive portions of the carrier of the article when thearticle is located in the heating zone.
 16. The system of claim 15,wherein the apparatus further comprises a substrate comprising pluralthermally-conductive portions, wherein, between the pluralthermally-conductive portions of the substrate, the substrate is shapedto create a thermal barrier for inhibiting heat conduction from one ormore of the plural thermally-conductive portions of the substratetowards another of the plural thermally-conductive portions of thesubstrate in use, and wherein the plural thermally-conductive portionsof the carrier of the article align with the plural thermally-conductiveportions of the substrate of the apparatus when the article is in theheating zone.